A different kind of assist from Hains

MIDLAND - Three years after donning a Midland High basketball uniform for the last time, Andrew Hains picked up another assist last week.
It wasn’t a behind-back pass or quick dish off to an open man under the basket.
And it wasn’t a long outlet pass to a streaking Rebel.
No, it was an assist by way of inspiration.
You see, Hains, who played guard for Rebels from 2009 to 2012 and was a member of the 2009-2010 team that made it to the Class B state finals, suffered a cruel twist of fate early last Wednesday morning when, returning from an outing with two of his friends, was thrown from  a vehicle when it careened off the roadway and into a field.
He suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Lafayette General Hospital, where he remains today in intensive care. Yesterday, he underwent surgery to help repair broken ribs, which have been hampering his breathing.
His recovery will be a long and hard one.
From that bed in the ICU unit, Hains has continued to be a source of inspiration, much as he was when he played for the Rebels.
Hence the assist.
Friday night, the Rebels, in a heart-warming act of concern for their former teammate, dedicated their District 7-B game against long-time rival Lacassine to Hains, writing his name and his number on their wrist bands in support.
Not surprisingly, the inspired Rebels jumped out to a quick lead and eventually defeated the Cardinals, 60-52, for a huge district victory.
“It was a group effort,”  first-year Midland coach William Stanley said of the decision to honor Hains. “It was the boys. Our manager, Matt Miguez, came to me and asked me about it; that’s what the boys wanted to do for him (Hains) and I thought it was a tremendous idea.”
So did former Midland coach Todd Briley, who was one of the first to visit Hains’ ICU room last week.
“What I really remember about Drew is that when he was young, before he played a lot, he was on the bench and he was a guy that just pulled for all his teammates,” recalled Briley, now the principal at Midland.
  “He was very unselfish and just an all-around team guy.
“I have confidence in him. If it comes down to determination, he’ll make a good recovery because he’s just a fighter like that.”
Doctors and nurses have told the family as much.
When Hains arrived at the hospital, things looked bleak.
A fractured vertebra, broken ribs, a badly collapsed lung and numerous other injuries didn’t inspire much hope.
But he has battled each and every day, while family and friends have held vigils and prayed.
And each day has brought signs of improvement.
Yesterday’s surgery is expected to speed that up, taking pressure off of his damaged lung and allowing him to breath easier.
  “He’s a fighter,” said his father, Brent.”He’s always been a fighter.”
Brent visited Midland High Friday before the Rebels’ game, asking to meet with team before tipoff.
It was in moving scene, said Stanley.
“He came to the shoot-around and talked with the boys and, heck, after the speech, I was ready to lace up and play myself,” said Stanley. “ He gave a pretty good little speech to the boys and told them ‘thank you’ and just how much they meant to Drew.
“Drew is one of those guys that comes back to the games and comes back to talk to the guys to try and get them better.
“So it was an emotional night.”
Moved by that speech, the team approached Stanley about the wrist bands.
“After they came up to me about the bands, I spoke to the officials about it and they said as a long as it (Hains’ name) wasn’t on the uniform, they were okay with that.
“Some of the players were writing it on their shoes as well.”
Hains is expected to remain in the hospital  in Lafayette for an extended period of time while he recuperates.
In Midland, the Rebels will go on, drawing inspiration from him.
And praying for a speedy recovery.